Pump-actuating mechanism



. F. J. EVANS.

PUMP ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1919.

1,347,739, v PafentedJuiy 27, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

Y 45 '1 a? i %@4 l 1 f w A TTORNEYS.

F. 1. EVANS.

PUMP ACIUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY31, 1919.

1,347,739. Patented July 27,1920;

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR. flaizczys ffimnu UNITED STATES Pa ENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS J. EVANS, OF BURBANK, WASHINGTON.

PUMP-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

Application filed. May 31,

T0 (1 whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, F RANCIS J. EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burbank, in the county of Valla .Walla and .State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pump-Actuating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to floating power apparatus and has to do more particularly with improvements in power apparatus of this character which is designed for use in pumping water.

My invention includes means, preferably buoyant in water, for supporting a pump or other driving wheel in the current in such a manner as to cause the water to exert rotary driving thrust upon the blades of the wheel, the supporting means, if buoyant, automatically holding the wheel at the proper depth of submergence.

lily invention includes power transmission means of a novel character, in combination with a novel driving feature of the water wheel, for the transmission of power generated by said wheel. In this connection, the invention is specifically and preferably restricted in its utility to the operation. of pumps or other load requiring slow intermittent operation.

In sustaining barges or other floating means carrying operating mechanism in the proper position in the current of the stream, difficulty has been encountered in the tendency of the floating means to seek the shore and ground. Therefore it is a feature of my invention to cause the thrust of water to be imparted in such a manner that the floating means will normally seek a position away from the shore. f s

Other features and objects of thisinvention will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and.

will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawings: 7 Figure 1 is a sectional view on. line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical plan view, on a greatly reduced scale, showing the general assembly of the apparatus. Q Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one of the crosshea-ds and the cooperating upright. Like characters of reference designates Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 27 192() 1919. Serial No. 301,128.

similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawings;

As illustrated, the supporting means employed is in the form of barges 1 and 2 which are suitably and rigidly connected in spaced relation by means such as cross frame structures 3 and 4 so that the two barges will to all intents and purposes constitute a unitary structure. Guylines are conventionally illustrated at 5 and 6 to tie the barge structure to the shore 7 but as this feature does not specificially enter into my invention it will notbe additionally referred to as other means may be employed to sustain the barges against downstream movement. lVater pumps 8, 9, 10 and 11 are, carried bythe barges in intake relation with respect to the .water in which the barges float. These pumps will preferablybe secured, in any desirable manner, asv by means 12,'to the barges, as shown in Figs. 2 and- Lines of piping will be connected in egress relaion with respect to the pumps, a main line pipe 13, leading from the shore, being connected with pumps 8 and 10, and a branch linepipe 1 1, connected with pumps 9 and11, being junctured at 15 with pipe 13. The specific manner of connecting the piping is not herein claimed but I consider it new in a floating pumping mechanism, broadly, to connect the series of pumps in egress relation to a single deliverypipe, as 13.

p A pump driving wheel is disposed between the barges 1 and 2 and is generally indicated at 16. Said wheel involves a preferably buoyant axle or sleeve body 17 which is shown mounted upon a wheel shaft 18. Barges 1 and 2'are provided with bearings 19 and 20 in which the ends of said shaft 18 are journaled. Power is not taken from this shaft-18, it being-one of the novel features of my invention to take the power from the periphery of the heel.- The wheelis provided with radially disposed blades 21 which extend outwardly fromthe sleeve body 17 and which f are connected at their 7 water on the receding blade, as indicated at 0, will engage the outerradial portion and exert a liftlng influence as long as this portion of the'blade is ascending from beneath the surface. Furthermore, the inner portion (Z will have been released from the water and will prevent any suction or back action thrust in withdrawing from the water such as would result with a flat radial blade. 7

Drive is taken off from the wheel 16 from the peripheries of the heads 22 and 23, and

I will now describe this feature of my invention.

It is a general rule to make wheels of this character of wood, as regards the sleeve 17 and the heads 22 and'23 as the buoyancy of this mass of material in the water takes off from the barges a material portion of the load, and in some cases, would permit of using a lighter barge than otherwise. As regards the heads, it is well known that wood will shrink when being continuously subjected to contact with water, and therefore, 1 have designed a peripheral mechanism which is especially adapted to accommodate itself to the changing dimensions of the heads. Each head is provided with a ring 24 the same being identical'in construction and operation only one being de-' scribed in detail. 'This ring is metallic and is'of somewhat enlarged diameter with respect to the diameter of the head so as to be in spaced relation to the periphery thereof. However, the arrangement is such that the drivingstrain is all taken up by the heads and transmitted thereby directly to the shaft 18 to which the heads are, preferably rigidly secured at 25 to thereby relieve the wheel from distorting stresses. The blades 21 are likewise rigidly secured to the-heads,

as at 26, thereby imparting the driving thrust directly to the heads.

Means is provided for'not only rigidly mounting the ring 24 on the head but also 7 4 for maintaining said ring in concentric relation to the head, in case of unequal shrinkage. Furthermore, said means also functions to maintain thering 24 in concentric relation to the axis of the wheel, oraxis of rotation, irrespective of the concentricity of the ring with respect to the head.

As illustrated, the head 22 has a series of radial'bores 27. Bolts 28 extend into said boresor sockets27 and the outer endsof said bolts socket in'a ring 24 at 29. A nut V 30, threaded on bolt 28 and bearing against the periphery 81, may be turned to move the bolt 28, positively, radially outwardly, or permit the bolt to move radially inwardly. These adjusting devices are substantially equally distantly spaced apart from each other about the periphery of head 22 so that when nutsBO on one peripheral point are tightened, other at a diametrical peripheral point maybe loosened. -After a ring is initially correctly adjusted, subsequent shrinkage of the head might require further adjustment and therefore the function of these devices is to correctly support the ring 24 in the desired relation to its head, these devices taking and transmitting the working thrust from the head to the ring.

Ring 24 carries a series of rotatable actuating disks or wheels 32, the ring 24 being suitably cut away or provided with openings 33 to accommodate said wheels. Thus the Wheels are centrally disposed with respect to the ring 24 and impart their strain to the ring 24 radially thereon and "without lateral thrust. Said wheels 32 are not only spaced apart predetern'iined distances for the purpose of permitting projection therebetween of actuated elements, about to be described, but these wheels 32 are spaced apart a distance so as to cause a periodic .rest of the mechanism to be driven. That portion of'the periphery 34, between the Wheels 32, acts as a runway, as will presently appear.

A supporting framework is mounted on the barges 1 and 2 and comprises uprights 35 and 36, rigidly secured to said barges and supporting a cross member 37, on their upper ends. Said member 37 may be extended beyond the uprights 35 and 36. as at 38, to afford supports for a block and tackle to lift the driving wheel into and out of position. The uprights 35 and 36 may be hollowed out or spaced apart, as indicated at 39, to accommodate vertically disposed adjusting rods 40 and 41. These adjusting rods 40 and 41 are threaded and are provided with adjusting wheels :42 and 43, on their upper ends. Nuts 44 and 45 are fixed to the horizontal member 37 and have threaded engagement with therods 40 and 41 so that when the latter are turned by their hand wheels they will be elevated or lowered in accordance withthe direction of rotation in which they are. adjusted. A walkingbeam crosshead 46 is. slidable upright 35 and a similar crosshead 47 slidable inupright 36, the crossheads taking the form illustrated in Fig. 4. Rods 41 and 42 extend through their respective crossheads and have threaded engagement therewith. A stud shaft 48 is provided on cross head 46 and a similar shaft 49 on cross head'47. A pump actuating walking beam 50 is mounted on shaft 48 and a similar beam 51 on shaft 4 As shown in Fig. 2, the pump rod 52 of pump 9 is pivotally connected at 53 with one end of walking beam 50. The other pumps 8, 10 and 11 are similarly connected. The walking beams are adjusted so that when the right hand end of beam 50, looking at Fig. 2, is at a lowermost position, the right hand end of beam 51 will be in an uppermost position. I contemplate using single acting pumpsand therefore only two pumps at a time, namely the diagonally disposed pumps, will be on pumping strokes, simultaneously, the remaining twopumps being on their return strokes. Adjustment of wheels 42 and 43 provide for adjustment of the walking beams with respect to the pumps.

I will next describe the manner in which drive is transmitted from the driving wheel to the walking beams.

A rocking arm cross head 54 is slidable in upright 35 and a similar cross head 55 is slidable in-upright 36. As the transmitting mechanisms are the same, only one need be described in detail. Cross head 54 has a stud shaft 56 on which a rocking arm 57 is pivoted, between its ends. Rocking arm 57 has actuated wheels 58 and 59 journaled thereto at 60 and 61. The ends of said arm have adjusting apertures 62. Links or transmitting rods 63 and 64 are pivotally connected 'to the ends of said arms at 65 and 66, and said rods 63 and 64 are also pivotally connected at 6'7 and 68 with said walking beam 50.

As the driving wheel 16 is turned in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the wheel 58 which is bearing on the intermediate running surface 34 will be engaged by wheel (6 thereby tending to lift the right hand end of arm 57 and rock the walking beam to impart upward pumping action to rod 52. As wheel 58 rides up on wheel a, wheel 59 will be riding down on wheel Z). After wheel 59 reaches the intermediate running section 34, it will ride on said section for a slight distance before wheel 0, reaches wheel 59. Thus between the ends of each stroke there will be a momentary period of inaction which tends to slow up the operation so as to eliminate the reversing strain. This is an important feature of my invention not only as applied to a pumping mechanism, but as applied to any slow driving mechanism.

The cross heads 54 and 55 are likewise threaded on rods 40 and 41 so that adjustment of the walking beams and rocking arms will be made simultaneously when the wheels 42 and 43 are turned. It will be understood that with this construction there will be no independent adjustment of the walking beams with respect to the rocking arms, the same being simultaneously ad justed. However, the pumping stroke may be adjusted by connecting the transmitting rods .63 and 64 to the different openings 62 and 69. Thus whatever adjustment is made, will be with a view of disposing the wheels 58 and 59 in proper relation to the wheels 32 and the ring 24. Likewise, the adjusting means provides for lifting the transmitting mechanism out of operative range with the driving wheel when it is desired to remove the latter. 1

lVhere floating mechanism of this character is employed there is always danger of the barges grounding because of their movement toward the shore. Therefore in order to maintain the hawsers 5 and 6 taut, it is a feature of my invention to sli htly cant the blades 21, as clearly shown in T ig. 3, so that the thrust of the water againstthe blades will exert a sustained thrust away from the shore, as well as a rotating thrust, with a view of keeping the barges'into the current. Of course in cases where'hawsers may be extended to opposite shores, this feature would not be necessary but Where the barges are anchored to one'shore, this is a feature of great importance. 6

By disposing the walking beams 50 and 51, inthe relation shown, wherein only the diagonally disposed pumps will be simultaneously pumping, and by keying the heads 23 and 22' to the shaft18, each head will take its individual strain of power transmission and the wheel will not be subjected to spiral distortive strains.

It is believed the advantages and utility of my invention will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and while I have herein shown and described one specific form of my invention I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as. the claims may import. w

I claim: 1. In a floating pumping apparatus,

barges rigidly united in spaced relation,

means extending from the shore for. sustaining the barges in the current, a pump driving water wheel rotatively supported on and disposed between said barges and having heads, beam-actuating disks or wheels peripherally mounted on said heads, a walking beam for each barge, a pair of pumps for operation by each walking beam and carried by said barges, and wheeled transmission means coacting with the wheels on said heads for actuating said walking beams.

2. In a floating pumping apparatus, a pump driving wheel having a head provided avith a series of peripherally disposed actuating wheels mounted thereon in spaced relation to each other, floating means for supporting said wheel, a rocking arm pivotally mounted on said means and having a wheel on each side of its pivotal axis for engagement wlth said actuating wheels to rock sa1d arm, a pump supported on said means, and

mechanism actuated by said arm for operating said pump.

3. In a floating pumping apparatus, a pump driving wheel having a head provided witha series of peripherally disposed actuating wheels mounted thereon in spaced relation to each other, floating means for supporting saidwheel, a rocking arm pivotally mounted on said means and having a wheel on each side of its pivotal axisv for engagement with said actuating wheels to rock said arm, the spacing of said wheels with respect tothe wheels on said arm and the wheels on said head being such that rotation of said water wheel-will impart rocking movement to. said arm with a pause between each cycle of rocking movement, and mechanism actuated by saidarm for operating said pump.

4. In a floating pumping apparatus, a pump driving wheel with means forsupporting the same in the current of water and said wheel having a head of wood, a wheel supporting ring peripherally mounted on and in peripheralspacedengagement with respect to said head, a plurality of actuat ing wheels rotatively ournaled in said ring, the mounting of said ring on said head including radial adjustable devices for maintaining said ring concentrically disposed with respect to said head irrespective of shrinkage of the latter.

5. In a I floating pumping apparatus, a pump driving wheel with means for supporting the same in'the current of water and said wheel having a head of wood, a wheel supporting ring peripherally disposed on and in peripheral spaced engagement with respect to said head, a plurality of actuating wheels rotatively journaled in said ring, a rocking arm pivoted on said means and having a wheel on each side of its pivotal mounting for engagement with said actuating wheels to rock said arm, a

pump carried by said means, and mecha-' nism operated by said arm for actuating said pump. v

6. In a slow speed pump transmission mechanism, a pump driving wheel, means supporting said wheel in a current of water, a ring mounted on said wheel, a series of actuating wheels journaled on said ring in spaced relation with respect to each other, a rocking arm pivotally carried by said means and having a wheel on opposite sides of its pivotal mounting for engagement with said actuating wheels and said ring to rock said arm, the arrangement being such that the wheels on said arm will alternately engage said actuating wheels and said ring and said actuating wheels being sufiiciently spaced apart to cause said arm to momentarily pause after each rocking movement, a pump carried by said means and mechanism operated by said arm for actuating said pump.

7. In a floating power apparatus, a rotary power wheel for operation by the current by means of its blades, shore-tied floating means supporting said wheel, and the blades of said wheel being canted to cause the thrust of the current to impel said means outwardly from the shore.

8. In a floating pumping apparatus, barges rigidly united in spaced relation, a water actuated wheel rotatively supported on and disposed between said barges, water pumps on said barges, upright guides on said barges united at their upper ends, walking beam and rocking arm device cross heads slidable in said guides, walking beams and rocking arm devices pivoted on said cross heads and operatively connected to transmit drive from said wheel to said pumps, and mechanism for adjusting said cross heads to dispose said rocking arm devices into working relation with said wheel or lift said devices free from said wheel for removal of the latter.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereby afiix my si nature.

FRANCIS f. EVANS. 

